Hell on Earth 2006
Encyclopedia
"Hell on Earth 2006" is the 150th episode of Comedy Central
's animated series South Park
. It originally aired on October 25, 2006 and marked the series' fourth Halloween episode.
The episode revolves around Satan, having a huge party in Los Angeles
— comparable to a sweet 16
party. Meanwhile, Butters Stotch
accidentally summons The Notorious B.I.G.
(always referred to in the episode as "Biggie Smalls"), who demands to help him go back to Los Angeles
, where the party is held.
The episode gained various positive responses from critics; however, it also sparked controversy shortly after its initial airing, due to the Steve Irwin
joke it contained, and was spoken against by Irwin's family.
— as big as a sweet 16
party. He proclaims to the spirits of the damned that anyone who wants to get in must get a blue wristband and wear a costume. However, Satan also invites many celebrities, overcrowding the guest list. Satan also decides to have a "really huge surprise as dessert"; he decides upon a cake the size and shape of a Ferrari Enzo, which three notorious serial killer
s — Ted Bundy
, Jeffrey Dahmer
, and John Wayne Gacy
— are entrusted with bringing to the party in time for midnight. Cardinal Roger Mahony and other Roman Catholic Church officials
of Los Angeles, angered that Satan does not invite them to the party, plan to call the fire marshal the night of the party to complain, thus ruining it. When they are unable to do so after discovering that the fire marshal was also invited to the party, the clergy decide to crash it. However, Satan's security make sure they do not get in at all, as they are wearing wristbands from Knott's Berry Farm
.
Meanwhile, in South Park, Cartman
, Stan
, Kyle
, Token, Tweek and Butters
experiment with a Bloody Mary
-type ritual to summon Biggie Smalls
. Butters succeeds in summoning him; however, Biggie already has his blue wristband and, since he is on Earth and cannot use the inter-dimensional vortex opened from Hell to get to the party, demands that Butters help him get there. However, Biggie keeps being summoned back to South Park mid-journey, first by Kyle and then Randy Marsh, further angering him.
In scenes mimicking The Three Stooges, the three serial killers ineptly destroy the cake and fail to make a new one. Satan's assistant Demonius finds a cake the exact size and shape of an Acura (a third-generation TL to be exact) as a last-minute substitute. However, Satan is infuriated that he did not receive the right cake. When Demonius points out that his guests are having fun regardless, Satan flies into a rage, screaming that the party is "not about them, it's all about ME!" The guests get upset and start to leave, and Satan realizes that, in trying to have a party like the girls on My Super Sweet 16
, he became like one of them (even when his minions insist he is not nearly as bad as they are). He tells the crowd that he is sorry and that his party is for all of the people who make his life so special. Satan invites everyone into the party, including the Catholic priests. Having arrived in Los Angeles, Butters uses a make-up mirror to summon Biggie Smalls straight to the party, who asks Butters to come in with him as thanks. Butters quickly agrees, seeing as "I'm gonna get grounded anyway, I might as well."
's Dan Iverson originally criticized the episode for the lack of storyline development, but later stated that "the storylines were humorous enough that we were able to put aside that there was no real social commentary (like the last three episodes), but instead madcap comedy that was funny based on silly humor alone". Iverson has also praised the episode for illustrating Satan as a spoiled child and for the Three Stooges scenes involving the killers, and concluded that "although 'Hell on Earth 2006' isn't as good as a couple of South Park's other Halloween episodes, it is still a very funny episode." Adam Finley of TV Squad stated that although he thought "Hell on Earth 2006" was a "great episode" it was "most guaranteed to offend somebody". Judge Keefer of DVD Verdict described the episode as "a really great installment with a wincing (yet guilty pleasure) joke", and graded the episode with an A.
One of the guests appearing at Satan's party is Steve Irwin, who has a stingray
protruding from his chest. Satan does not realize that it is Irwin at first, thinking instead that it is someone else in a costume, and confronts the person telling him that it is in bad taste to wear such a costume so soon after Irwin's death. Finding out it actually is Irwin, Satan kicks him out of the party for not wearing a costume. The scene sparked controversy among the media as a parody of Irwin's death just weeks after the press surrounding it. The controversy was mainly because of the airing of the episode so close to Irwin's death, since an earlier parody of Irwin a 1999 South Park episode entitled "Prehistoric Ice Man", did not spark controversy. A friend of Terri Irwin
, Steve Irwin's widow, has issued a statement about the episode:
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's animated series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It originally aired on October 25, 2006 and marked the series' fourth Halloween episode.
The episode revolves around Satan, having a huge party in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— comparable to a sweet 16
Sweet sixteen (birthday)
A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. Meanwhile, Butters Stotch
Butters Stotch
Leopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
accidentally summons The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
(always referred to in the episode as "Biggie Smalls"), who demands to help him go back to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where the party is held.
The episode gained various positive responses from critics; however, it also sparked controversy shortly after its initial airing, due to the Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin
Stephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
joke it contained, and was spoken against by Irwin's family.
Plot
Satan decides that since Halloween is essentially his holiday, he is going to have a huge party in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— as big as a sweet 16
Sweet sixteen (birthday)
A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. He proclaims to the spirits of the damned that anyone who wants to get in must get a blue wristband and wear a costume. However, Satan also invites many celebrities, overcrowding the guest list. Satan also decides to have a "really huge surprise as dessert"; he decides upon a cake the size and shape of a Ferrari Enzo, which three notorious serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s — Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy
Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
, Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
, and John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
— are entrusted with bringing to the party in time for midnight. Cardinal Roger Mahony and other Roman Catholic Church officials
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
of Los Angeles, angered that Satan does not invite them to the party, plan to call the fire marshal the night of the party to complain, thus ruining it. When they are unable to do so after discovering that the fire marshal was also invited to the party, the clergy decide to crash it. However, Satan's security make sure they do not get in at all, as they are wearing wristbands from Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
.
Meanwhile, in South Park, Cartman
Eric Cartman
Eric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
, Stan
Stan Marsh
Stanley Randall "Stan" Marsh is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by and loosely based on series co-creator Trey Parker. Stan is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Kyle
Kyle Broflovski
Kyle Broflovski is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by co-creator Matt Stone. Kyle is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Token, Tweek and Butters
Butters Stotch
Leopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
experiment with a Bloody Mary
Bloody Mary (folklore)
Bloody Mary is a ghost or witch featured in English folklore. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times or sometimes more while in a dark room, depending upon the version of the story, often as part of a game or dare.-Overview:...
-type ritual to summon Biggie Smalls
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
. Butters succeeds in summoning him; however, Biggie already has his blue wristband and, since he is on Earth and cannot use the inter-dimensional vortex opened from Hell to get to the party, demands that Butters help him get there. However, Biggie keeps being summoned back to South Park mid-journey, first by Kyle and then Randy Marsh, further angering him.
In scenes mimicking The Three Stooges, the three serial killers ineptly destroy the cake and fail to make a new one. Satan's assistant Demonius finds a cake the exact size and shape of an Acura (a third-generation TL to be exact) as a last-minute substitute. However, Satan is infuriated that he did not receive the right cake. When Demonius points out that his guests are having fun regardless, Satan flies into a rage, screaming that the party is "not about them, it's all about ME!" The guests get upset and start to leave, and Satan realizes that, in trying to have a party like the girls on My Super Sweet 16
My Super Sweet 16
My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 ...
, he became like one of them (even when his minions insist he is not nearly as bad as they are). He tells the crowd that he is sorry and that his party is for all of the people who make his life so special. Satan invites everyone into the party, including the Catholic priests. Having arrived in Los Angeles, Butters uses a make-up mirror to summon Biggie Smalls straight to the party, who asks Butters to come in with him as thanks. Butters quickly agrees, seeing as "I'm gonna get grounded anyway, I might as well."
Reception
The episode received fairly high review ratings. IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Dan Iverson originally criticized the episode for the lack of storyline development, but later stated that "the storylines were humorous enough that we were able to put aside that there was no real social commentary (like the last three episodes), but instead madcap comedy that was funny based on silly humor alone". Iverson has also praised the episode for illustrating Satan as a spoiled child and for the Three Stooges scenes involving the killers, and concluded that "although 'Hell on Earth 2006' isn't as good as a couple of South Park's other Halloween episodes, it is still a very funny episode." Adam Finley of TV Squad stated that although he thought "Hell on Earth 2006" was a "great episode" it was "most guaranteed to offend somebody". Judge Keefer of DVD Verdict described the episode as "a really great installment with a wincing (yet guilty pleasure) joke", and graded the episode with an A.
Steve Irwin controversy
Stingray
The stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
protruding from his chest. Satan does not realize that it is Irwin at first, thinking instead that it is someone else in a costume, and confronts the person telling him that it is in bad taste to wear such a costume so soon after Irwin's death. Finding out it actually is Irwin, Satan kicks him out of the party for not wearing a costume. The scene sparked controversy among the media as a parody of Irwin's death just weeks after the press surrounding it. The controversy was mainly because of the airing of the episode so close to Irwin's death, since an earlier parody of Irwin a 1999 South Park episode entitled "Prehistoric Ice Man", did not spark controversy. A friend of Terri Irwin
Terri Irwin
Theresa Penelope "Terri" Irwin, AM is an Australian-based, American-born naturalist, author, the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin and owner of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia...
, Steve Irwin's widow, has issued a statement about the episode:
"Terri is devastated Steve is being mocked in such a cruel way. Her worry is that Bindi and Bob will see it and break down. Steve had as big a sense of humour as anyone, but this goes too far too soon."
"Hell on Earth 2006" is the 150th episode of Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's animated series South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It originally aired on October 25, 2006 and marked the series' fourth Halloween episode.
The episode revolves around Satan, having a huge party in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— comparable to a sweet 16Sweet sixteen (birthday)A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. Meanwhile, Butters StotchButters StotchLeopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
accidentally summons The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
(always referred to in the episode as "Biggie Smalls"), who demands to help him go back to Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where the party is held.
The episode gained various positive responses from critics; however, it also sparked controversy shortly after its initial airing, due to the Steve IrwinSteve IrwinStephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
joke it contained, and was spoken against by Irwin's family.
Plot
Satan decides that since Halloween is essentially his holiday, he is going to have a huge party in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— as big as a sweet 16Sweet sixteen (birthday)A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. He proclaims to the spirits of the damned that anyone who wants to get in must get a blue wristband and wear a costume. However, Satan also invites many celebrities, overcrowding the guest list. Satan also decides to have a "really huge surprise as dessert"; he decides upon a cake the size and shape of a Ferrari Enzo, which three notorious serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s — Ted BundyTed BundyTheodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
, Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey DahmerJeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
, and John Wayne GacyJohn Wayne GacyJohn Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
— are entrusted with bringing to the party in time for midnight. Cardinal Roger Mahony and other Roman Catholic Church officialsRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Los AngelesThe Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
of Los Angeles, angered that Satan does not invite them to the party, plan to call the fire marshal the night of the party to complain, thus ruining it. When they are unable to do so after discovering that the fire marshal was also invited to the party, the clergy decide to crash it. However, Satan's security make sure they do not get in at all, as they are wearing wristbands from Knott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
.
Meanwhile, in South Park, CartmanEric CartmanEric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
, StanStan MarshStanley Randall "Stan" Marsh is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by and loosely based on series co-creator Trey Parker. Stan is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, KyleKyle BroflovskiKyle Broflovski is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by co-creator Matt Stone. Kyle is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Token, Tweek and ButtersButters StotchLeopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
experiment with a Bloody MaryBloody Mary (folklore)Bloody Mary is a ghost or witch featured in English folklore. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times or sometimes more while in a dark room, depending upon the version of the story, often as part of a game or dare.-Overview:...
-type ritual to summon Biggie SmallsThe Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
. Butters succeeds in summoning him; however, Biggie already has his blue wristband and, since he is on Earth and cannot use the inter-dimensional vortex opened from Hell to get to the party, demands that Butters help him get there. However, Biggie keeps being summoned back to South Park mid-journey, first by Kyle and then Randy Marsh, further angering him.
In scenes mimicking The Three Stooges, the three serial killers ineptly destroy the cake and fail to make a new one. Satan's assistant Demonius finds a cake the exact size and shape of an Acura (a third-generation TL to be exact) as a last-minute substitute. However, Satan is infuriated that he did not receive the right cake. When Demonius points out that his guests are having fun regardless, Satan flies into a rage, screaming that the party is "not about them, it's all about ME!" The guests get upset and start to leave, and Satan realizes that, in trying to have a party like the girls on My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 ...
, he became like one of them (even when his minions insist he is not nearly as bad as they are). He tells the crowd that he is sorry and that his party is for all of the people who make his life so special. Satan invites everyone into the party, including the Catholic priests. Having arrived in Los Angeles, Butters uses a make-up mirror to summon Biggie Smalls straight to the party, who asks Butters to come in with him as thanks. Butters quickly agrees, seeing as "I'm gonna get grounded anyway, I might as well."
Reception
The episode received fairly high review ratings. IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Dan Iverson originally criticized the episode for the lack of storyline development, but later stated that "the storylines were humorous enough that we were able to put aside that there was no real social commentary (like the last three episodes), but instead madcap comedy that was funny based on silly humor alone". Iverson has also praised the episode for illustrating Satan as a spoiled child and for the Three Stooges scenes involving the killers, and concluded that "although 'Hell on Earth 2006' isn't as good as a couple of South Park's other Halloween episodes, it is still a very funny episode." Adam Finley of TV Squad stated that although he thought "Hell on Earth 2006" was a "great episode" it was "most guaranteed to offend somebody". Judge Keefer of DVD Verdict described the episode as "a really great installment with a wincing (yet guilty pleasure) joke", and graded the episode with an A.
Steve Irwin controversy
One of the guests appearing at Satan's party is Steve Irwin, who has a stingrayStingrayThe stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
protruding from his chest. Satan does not realize that it is Irwin at first, thinking instead that it is someone else in a costume, and confronts the person telling him that it is in bad taste to wear such a costume so soon after Irwin's death. Finding out it actually is Irwin, Satan kicks him out of the party for not wearing a costume. The scene sparked controversy among the media as a parody of Irwin's death just weeks after the press surrounding it. The controversy was mainly because of the airing of the episode so close to Irwin's death, since an earlier parody of Irwin a 1999 South Park episode entitled "Prehistoric Ice Man", did not spark controversy. A friend of Terri IrwinTerri IrwinTheresa Penelope "Terri" Irwin, AM is an Australian-based, American-born naturalist, author, the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin and owner of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia...
, Steve Irwin's widow, has issued a statement about the episode:
"Terri is devastated Steve is being mocked in such a cruel way. Her worry is that Bindi and Bob will see it and break down. Steve had as big a sense of humour as anyone, but this goes too far too soon."
"Hell on Earth 2006" is the 150th episode of Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's animated series South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It originally aired on October 25, 2006 and marked the series' fourth Halloween episode.
The episode revolves around Satan, having a huge party in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— comparable to a sweet 16Sweet sixteen (birthday)A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. Meanwhile, Butters StotchButters StotchLeopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
accidentally summons The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
(always referred to in the episode as "Biggie Smalls"), who demands to help him go back to Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where the party is held.
The episode gained various positive responses from critics; however, it also sparked controversy shortly after its initial airing, due to the Steve IrwinSteve IrwinStephen Robert "Steve" Irwin , nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter", was an Australian television personality, wildlife expert, and conservationist. Irwin achieved worldwide fame from the television series The Crocodile Hunter, an internationally broadcast wildlife documentary series which he co-hosted...
joke it contained, and was spoken against by Irwin's family.
Plot
Satan decides that since Halloween is essentially his holiday, he is going to have a huge party in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
— as big as a sweet 16Sweet sixteen (birthday)A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
party. He proclaims to the spirits of the damned that anyone who wants to get in must get a blue wristband and wear a costume. However, Satan also invites many celebrities, overcrowding the guest list. Satan also decides to have a "really huge surprise as dessert"; he decides upon a cake the size and shape of a Ferrari Enzo, which three notorious serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s — Ted BundyTed BundyTheodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
, Jeffrey DahmerJeffrey DahmerJeffrey Lionel Dahmer was an American serial killer and sex offender. Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991, with the majority of the murders occurring between 1987 and 1991. His murders involved rape, dismemberment, necrophilia and cannibalism...
, and John Wayne GacyJohn Wayne GacyJohn Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
— are entrusted with bringing to the party in time for midnight. Cardinal Roger Mahony and other Roman Catholic Church officialsRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Los AngelesThe Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
of Los Angeles, angered that Satan does not invite them to the party, plan to call the fire marshal the night of the party to complain, thus ruining it. When they are unable to do so after discovering that the fire marshal was also invited to the party, the clergy decide to crash it. However, Satan's security make sure they do not get in at all, as they are wearing wristbands from Knott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
.
Meanwhile, in South Park, CartmanEric CartmanEric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
, StanStan MarshStanley Randall "Stan" Marsh is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by and loosely based on series co-creator Trey Parker. Stan is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Kyle Broflovski, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, KyleKyle BroflovskiKyle Broflovski is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by co-creator Matt Stone. Kyle is one of the show's four central characters, along with his friends Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick, and Eric Cartman...
, Token, Tweek and ButtersButters StotchLeopold "Butters" Stotch is a fictional character in the animated television series South Park. He is voiced by series co-creator Matt Stone and loosely based on co-producer Eric Stough. He is a fourth-grade student who commonly has extraordinary experiences not typical of conventional small-town...
experiment with a Bloody MaryBloody Mary (folklore)Bloody Mary is a ghost or witch featured in English folklore. She is said to appear in a mirror when her name is called three times or sometimes more while in a dark room, depending upon the version of the story, often as part of a game or dare.-Overview:...
-type ritual to summon Biggie SmallsThe Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
. Butters succeeds in summoning him; however, Biggie already has his blue wristband and, since he is on Earth and cannot use the inter-dimensional vortex opened from Hell to get to the party, demands that Butters help him get there. However, Biggie keeps being summoned back to South Park mid-journey, first by Kyle and then Randy Marsh, further angering him.
In scenes mimicking The Three Stooges, the three serial killers ineptly destroy the cake and fail to make a new one. Satan's assistant Demonius finds a cake the exact size and shape of an Acura (a third-generation TL to be exact) as a last-minute substitute. However, Satan is infuriated that he did not receive the right cake. When Demonius points out that his guests are having fun regardless, Satan flies into a rage, screaming that the party is "not about them, it's all about ME!" The guests get upset and start to leave, and Satan realizes that, in trying to have a party like the girls on My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera , the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 ...
, he became like one of them (even when his minions insist he is not nearly as bad as they are). He tells the crowd that he is sorry and that his party is for all of the people who make his life so special. Satan invites everyone into the party, including the Catholic priests. Having arrived in Los Angeles, Butters uses a make-up mirror to summon Biggie Smalls straight to the party, who asks Butters to come in with him as thanks. Butters quickly agrees, seeing as "I'm gonna get grounded anyway, I might as well."
Reception
The episode received fairly high review ratings. IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Dan Iverson originally criticized the episode for the lack of storyline development, but later stated that "the storylines were humorous enough that we were able to put aside that there was no real social commentary (like the last three episodes), but instead madcap comedy that was funny based on silly humor alone". Iverson has also praised the episode for illustrating Satan as a spoiled child and for the Three Stooges scenes involving the killers, and concluded that "although 'Hell on Earth 2006' isn't as good as a couple of South Park's other Halloween episodes, it is still a very funny episode." Adam Finley of TV Squad stated that although he thought "Hell on Earth 2006" was a "great episode" it was "most guaranteed to offend somebody". Judge Keefer of DVD Verdict described the episode as "a really great installment with a wincing (yet guilty pleasure) joke", and graded the episode with an A.
Steve Irwin controversy
One of the guests appearing at Satan's party is Steve Irwin, who has a stingrayStingrayThe stingrays are a group of rays, which are cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They are classified in the suborder Myliobatoidei of the order Myliobatiformes, and consist of eight families: Hexatrygonidae , Plesiobatidae , Urolophidae , Urotrygonidae , Dasyatidae , Potamotrygonidae The...
protruding from his chest. Satan does not realize that it is Irwin at first, thinking instead that it is someone else in a costume, and confronts the person telling him that it is in bad taste to wear such a costume so soon after Irwin's death. Finding out it actually is Irwin, Satan kicks him out of the party for not wearing a costume. The scene sparked controversy among the media as a parody of Irwin's death just weeks after the press surrounding it. The controversy was mainly because of the airing of the episode so close to Irwin's death, since an earlier parody of Irwin a 1999 South Park episode entitled "Prehistoric Ice Man", did not spark controversy. A friend of Terri IrwinTerri IrwinTheresa Penelope "Terri" Irwin, AM is an Australian-based, American-born naturalist, author, the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin and owner of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia...
, Steve Irwin's widow, has issued a statement about the episode:
"Terri is devastated Steve is being mocked in such a cruel way. Her worry is that Bindi and Bob will see it and break down. Steve had as big a sense of humour as anyone, but this goes too far too soon."— A friend of Terri IrwinTerri IrwinTheresa Penelope "Terri" Irwin, AM is an Australian-based, American-born naturalist, author, the widow of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin and owner of Australia Zoo at Beerwah, Queensland, Australia...
Besides Irwin's family, the episode also received criticism from press personalities; John Beyer, the director of mediawatch-ukMediawatch-ukMediawatch-uk, formerly known as the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, is a pressure group in the United Kingdom, which campaigns against the publication and broadcast of media content that it views as harmful and offensive, such as violence, profanity, sex, homosexuality and...
, said that it was in bad taste to create such a scene and the makers of South Park should review their decision to show it. Irwin's fellow naturalist Mark Amey called the show "distasteful shit."
In a response to the controversy around the episode, Tony Fox, a spokesperson for Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, defended the episode, saying "The South Park guys do inappropriate things all the time...their goal is to make people laugh, not to offend people." Additionally, another spokesperson for the network has said that "South Park has offended people in the past and probably will again. Regular watchers would not be shocked." Although rumors were spread about the episode not being broadcast in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
due to the controversy, The Australian Communications and Media AuthorityAustralian Communications and Media AuthorityThe Australian Communications and Media Authority is an Australian government statutory authority within the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio...
(ACMA) announced the episode would be broadcast on SBSSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
, but would be derailed 12 months due to programming issues. Film magazine EmpireEmpire (magazine)Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
also stated in the "things on our mind this month" in their December 2006 issue that it was "Too Much", as well as saying "kill Kenny again, he likes it!".
External links
- Hell on Earth 2006 Full episode at South Park Studios
- Hell on Earth 2006 Episode guide at South Park Studios
